Meet future stars at Croft Circuit’s first event of 2011
There is little more than a week to go before the Croft Circuit’s much-anticipated 2011 motor sport calendar bursts into action with the opening rounds of the North East Motorcycle Racing Club’s hotly contested championships (Sat-Sun 9-10 April).
In total, no fewer than 29 action-packed races for a wide variety of bikes are in store during the two-day meeting at the North East region’s premier motor sport venue, just outside Darlington. Race day prices cost just £12 per adult while admission for children aged 15 and under is FREE – making the event great value-for-money entertainment for seasoned and casual bike fans alike, especially family audiences. On-track action starts at 09.30am Saturday and midday Sunday.
Furthermore, the NEMCRC’s race weekend offers the public an opportunity to meet several young names who appear destined for future stardom – notably the region’s very own Chrissy Rouse, being hailed by many in the sport as Britain’s next big motorcycle racing star.
Just 15 years old, the Gateshead schoolboy will be competing in the 125GP category as a warm-up for his forthcoming British 125GP season which visits Croft next month (13-15 May) alongside the UK’s premier motorcycle attraction, the MCE Insurance Superbike Championship.
Two more names to watch will be 16-year-old Scottish schoolgirl Sammi Tasker, last year’s NEMCRC 125GP Champion, and 15-year-old Tarran Mackenzie (the son of ex-Grand Prix rider and three-time BSB Champion Niall Mackenzie) who will both be lining up against Rouse on the same grid.
The weekend’s big race is the ‘open category’ for the famous Ken Redfern Trophy at 3.00pm on the Sunday, featuring respective British Superbike and Supersport names such as Joe Burns (Newcastle)and Dave Paton (Edinburgh) on BMW machinery that could reach a staggering 180mph on some sections of the Croft track.
Another coveted piece of silverware up for grabs will be the ‘Laird of Croft’ trophy, awarded to the aggregate winner of four Formula 600 races held over the two days.
Three ‘Classic’ categories (for 250cc, 350cc and Unlimited), featuring iconic pre-1972 Italian, Japanese and British makes of bike are also sure to be an added attraction for fans new and old.
Matt Barkess, Championship Co-ordinator for the North Shields-based NEMCRC, commented: “Croft is the perfect place to start our season as it’s very much our club’s spiritual home. There was a period that we really didn’t run events at all but Croft then re-opened in the mid-Nineties and has really helped get us back up on our feet. This event is a bit of an early treat for the North East as it includes a lot of top names and many of our club competitors are really looking forward to seeing how they go compared to some of the Superbike names who are using the event as a bit of a test for their big seasons coming up. It’s a great opportunity for the public to come in and see them at speed and we very much look forward to welcoming them over the weekend.”
The NEMCRC event marks the beginning of Croft’s big 2011 race calendar that features the very best in two and four-wheeled motor sport. Eleven meetings are so far on the agenda including Croft’s ‘Big Three’, namely the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship (13-15 May), Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (18-19 June) and the circuit’s very own Nostalgia Weekend (6-7 August) – a two-day festival of the very best in historic motor sport which also invites the public to attend in period costume from the Forties through to the Seventies.
Croft Circuit Manager Tracey Morley commented: “The NEMCRC’s event is a great way to get our 2011 race programme started. The variety of bikes in action is fantastic and the level of competition across the different categories is extremely competitive. From what we are hearing from other organising clubs, too, this will likely be the same at all our events this year. In fact, 2011 is looking like a vintage year for Croft Circuit and therefore motor sport fans from right across the region. Plus there may yet be a couple more big news announcements to come. We are very excited by what is in store.”
For more information about Croft Circuit – including a list of race events, dates, ticket prices and to book – visit croftcircuit.co.uk.
